Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-10-01
IN A GERMAN CAFE,
An Institution Of tho FatherIand That Has
Found ia Way to New York.

An Institution Of the FatherIand That Has
Found ia Way to New York.
| was walking up Second avenue
from Hudson street the other day
when | noticed number Of men
seated at open windows in one of the
old-time aristocratic houses near Tenth
street Some were reading, some
were playing chess and few vera
dreamily putting at cigars and watch
ing the rings Of blue smoke as they
floatcd over their heads.
From their appearance they We're al
Germans, which was not at all strange,
this being now German neighbor-
hood. Over the main entrance to the
house was small, neat sign, bearing
the single word; "Cafc.' | entered.
The place was peculiar one. 1t
was divided into three rooms, and also
had large veranda in the rear. The
front room, which was also the largest,
contained many small, round, hard
wood tables, at which sat the persons l
had seen from the street and many
others, Nearly all were drinking
strong coffee. On shelves extending
around the walls were all sorts and
kinds of German illustrated papers,
newspapers, funny journals, standard
German books and some rare and
curious German volumes. Perhaps
thirty men were in the room, although
it was early in the afternoon, when
most people are at work.
Generally Germans are very volublc
when they are together, but here not {.
sound was to be heard except the rust
ling of the papers and an occasional
ejaculation from one of the chess
players, The latter were deeply i'm
merScd in their games and entirely OBJ
livious to aught else but their cigars.
Their brows were knit into severe
frownS and their bodies were bent for
ward. An air of extreme rcstfulncss
peryaded the place and made one feel
at home, despite the fotcign character
istics of the mcn. All seemed to know
each other, but, as if by agreement, all
conversation was confined to a few
words of recognition.
In the spacious hall a similar scene
was to be found. In one of tht
inner rooms were two billiard table,
which were covered and looked neo
lected. In the third room was a coun.
ter with two showcases, one containing
cigars and cigarettes, and the Other
filed with samples of German pastry,
There were large cakes, soft and deli
cious in appearance, but not at al
sweet; peculiar apple, peach, cheese
ana prunc cakes, without any nppc'
crust, all very good, but different iron
American or French pastry,
On the yeranda sat several persons
engaged IN conversation, apparently
appertalning to business. 1t was
queer scene IN the middle OF bus
day III busy New York and outside o
similar resorts could probably not b'
1oIlhd anywhere else i'll the city.
In no place, probably, can the every
day life of the male part OF our large Ger
man population be studied to better adj
vantage than in the numerous German
cafes which range from the cheap re
sort on East Houston street to the Swc!
and luxurious brownstone affair OF
/ Eifty-seyenth street. The characteris'
tics of the one differ but little from tho
other. The difference lies mainly it
the surroundings and the quality of the
furniture. decorations and so forth.
The one is An exact copy of IFS Bor
lin and Vicnnese prototyne. II is SC
entirely different from any thing
American n. Trench or Enolfsh that i
seems ont Of place in our streets Tc
y student dcsirous of maxine bimsplt
nrouainted with real German custom,
and character no place this side of the
Fathcrland will prove so useful as thi,
cafe. 1t is also the only place where
can be obtained those examples of raa
/ German cooking which are so satisfy.
ing and at the same time SO delicious.
Tho cafe is GREAT deal more TO ,hr
German than merely a restaurant. /
is his club where he find thing, as h,
remembers them in the old country
where he can throw aside his acquired
American customs and can FORGET
every thing except that he is n German
Not that he always does this, for n
- ''' ,a,
enjoyment Of Il more noisy kind, scrap.
| nf lnuI ponVprsotion c1n hn hpoi1 in